Plummet



. July 28, 1931. E. H. MORRIS 1,816,786

PLUHMET Filed May 14. 1929 gwueyltot EH Mar/"1'5 Patented July 28, 1931 PATENT OFFICE EARL H. MORRIS, OF BROOKPORT, ILLINOIS PLUMMET Application filed May 14,

, My invention relates to plummets, and has for one of its objects to provide a device of this character which shall include a body provided in its upper end with a compartment adapted to receive and protect the plumb line.

The invention has for a further object to provide a plummet of the character stated which shall embody a drum or bobbin arranged within the compartment and adapted to have the plumb line wound thereon, to-

gether with a member also arranged within i the compartment and adapted to insure the uniform winding of the plumb line on the drum or bobbin and adapted to insure the free movement of the plumb line while it is being wound on or unwound from the drum or bobbin.

The invention has for a further object to 0 provide a plummet of the character stated wherein the plumb line winding and guidingmember shall be rotatably associated with the bobbin whereby to enable the plumb line to be easily wound upon and unwound from the drum or bobbin, and to permit such memher to uniformly wind the plumb line on the drum or bobbin.

The invention has for a further object to provide a plummet of the character stated wherein the drum or bobbin shall be arrangedwithin'the compartment of the body in a manner to position its axis in alinement with the vertical center or axis of the plummet, wherein the plumb line winding and 55, guiding member shall be arranged within the compartment for rotation about a vertical axis coincident with the axes of the body and the drum or bobbin, and wherein the member shall be provided with passages and openings arranged and of such a formation as to insurethe free passage of the plumb line therethrough and to prevent the abrasion of the plumb line while it is being wound on or unwound from the drum.

The invention has for a further object to provide a plummet of the character stated wherein the drum or bobbin shall be rotatably arranged within the compartment of the body so as to permit the plumbline to reel oil'from the drum or bobbin and thereby 1929. Serial No. 362,.l27.

reduce to the minimum the forces tending to twist the plumb line and rotate the body.

The invention has for a further object to provide a plummet of the character stated which shall include means through the medium of which the drum or bobbin andthe plumb line winding and guiding member may be secured against rotation with respect to the body.

The invention has for a further object to provide a plummet of the character stated wherein the drum or bobbin and the plumb line winding and guiding member shall be freely removable from the body to permit the easy application of a new plumb line, and wherein said parts shall be capable of being readily reassembled within the body after the application of the new plumb line.

The invention has for a further object to provde a device of the character stated wherein the body and the other parts shall be capable of the finest degree of accurate construction so as to adapt the plummet for use in connection with engineering instruments.

The invention has for a still further object to provide a plummet of the character stated which will permit minute and accurate adj ustment of the body and the plumb line with relation to the elevation from which the plumb line hangs when in use, whereby to permit accurate adjustment between the indicating point of the body and the mark to which indication is being made.

These and other objects are attained by the construction shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration are shown perferred embodiments and wherein t Figure 1 is a sectional view taken on a plane extending vertically and centrally through a plummet constructed in accordance with my invention;

Figure 2 is a top plan View of the plummet;

Figure 3 is a detailed View partly in vertical section and partly in elevation illustrating the means for holding thedrum or bobbin against rotation with respect to the plummet;

Figure 4 is a top plan view of one member of the means for holding the drum or bobbin against rotation; and

Figure 5 is a View partly in vertical section and partly in elevation of a slightly modified tachably connected to the body 1, and these parts are preferably connected by a screw threaded stud 3 formed on the upper end of the point 2 and engaged in a screw threaded socket 4 formed in the lower end of the body. The body 1 is provided in its upper end with a recess or compartment 5 for the reception of the plumb line receiving drum 6 and the plumb line winding, and idin g member 7. The compartment 5' is of cylindrical forma tion, and its axis coincides with the axis of the body 1; A spindleS, on which thebobbin 6 xis rotatably mounted, extends upwardly troin the bottom wall of the compartment 5, and is arranged at the axial center or" the body 1 and the compartment. A; bonnet 9 which is positioned in the open or upper side of thecompartment his screw threadedly engaged with the'bod'y 1, as at 10, and is providedwit'h a: central opening 11 for the: rece tion of the upper por'tionot the winding and guiding member 7 and tor'th e receptionof a clamping screw 12.. r p

The bobbin 6 is horizontally; arranged within: the compartment 5- and rests upon the bottom wall of the compartment, and is pro videdat its lateral side or periphery with plumb line-retaining flanges 13. Means are provided for normally holding; the bobbin 6 against rotation on the spi-nd le 8 and by preference" such means comprise teeth 1% and 15, termed on the: bottom wall of the-,compart ment 5 and on th'eilower side of the bobbin 6, respectively. The teetlr'l t and 15 are preferably oh V-form, and those on the bobbin 6 engtagezwith those ontthe' bottom wall of the compartment 5' to hold. the bobbin against rotationgas clearly shown in Figure-3.

The winding and guiding member 7 co1nprises a, cylindrical body portion 16 which rests upon thebobbin 6 and is provided at its vertical center wi-tlra p'a'ssage 17, for the 'reception: 025 the upper end of the spindle 8; An: annular flange 18- exte'nds downwardly trom thebodiv portion 16 in surrounding relation to the bobbin 6 and is provided with radial openings 1850. A: stem 19 extends up Wardl v from: the body -portion16 and is arranged atthef center thereoii- Thestem 19' is provided with a central. passage whicl i con side of the body portion -16;

' openings T he plumb line 20 is wound upon the bobbin 6 and extends from the bobbin through the winding and guiding member 7. The plumb line 20 extends through one of the openings 18a in the flange 18, through one of a pair of inwardly inclined openings 16a formed in the body portion 16 and communicating with the passage 17 above the spindle 8, and then on through passage 17. To insure the free passage of the plumb line 20 through-thewinding and guidin member '7, and to prevent the abrasion of the plumb line during its passage through said member, the

walls ofthe openings 180: are rounded the flange 18 is provided immediately above with projections 1 and the n1 corner of the flange is rounded, and; a n g or eye 21 is arranged inthe passage 1 immediately above the inner ends of the open= in 's 16a the plumb line contacting. with this 7 n 7 1 Q part, as clearly shown in Figure 1.. 7

If desir d, the body and indicating p0" rtof the plummet may betorrned integn. as shown in Figure 5 whereinsaid parts are designated 1e and 2a, respectively; The bobbin 6 may also be formed integrally with the pl-nminetas shown in this figure and when this is done the bob-him which is lie-redesigated 6a is provided at the aerial center or the body 1a with aspindie 8a for he winding and guiding niember. The remaining 1) s of the plummet shown in this figure are similar to thecorresponding parts of the pl net shown in Figures 1 to 4 and designated by corresponding reference characters From the foregoing description; taken in connection with the accompanying. draw it should be apparent that the plumb-l may be easily and uickly wound on or unwound from the bobbin 6, and that the plumb lineis guided in its movements on Oil of the bobbin by the mom or 7 which, when the screw 12 is turned upwardly be moved upwardly with respect to the bobbin and thenmoved' downwardly during the winding, of the plumb line in order to uniformly d istribute the line oyer the bobbin so as to prevent it from becoming entangled and thus insure its free unwinding from the bobbin. The reduced portion lie" of the passage 1'? in the winding and guiding member 7; is arranged in alinement with the-axisottheplummet soas to insure the-suspension of th I ummet with i-tsa-X-is a vertical position. When it is desired to permit the bobbin 6' to rotate with respectto the plummet, the clamping screw l2 is turned slightly upward to tree the teeth 14 f8 lfl dl5 from i erlockin'g engagement, and when the bobbin is free to rotate the plumblinewi-li reel therefrom. fitter the plumb line- 20 has unwound from the bobbin 6 suificientlytosupport the plummet at the desired:elevatiom the clampi-ngscrew 12 is turned downwardly to cause the teeth 14 115' to interlock and secure the plum holding the bobbin against turning movement during the winding thereon of the plumb line. After the plumb line has been wound upon the bobbin 6, it is held against unwinding by locking the member 7 against rotation with respect to the bobbin through the medium of the clamping screw 12. When the plumb line 20 is fully wound upon the bobbin 6, it will be completely housed and protected.

After the removal of the bonnet 9 and clamping screw, 12, the winding and guiding member 7 and the bobbin 6 be removed from the compartment 5, and with these parts removed from the compartment a new plumb line may be readily connected to the bobbin and threaded through the winding and guiding member. In the form of the plummet shown in Figure 5 the new line may be applied to the bobbin 6a and threaded through the winding and guiding member 7 after the removal of said member, the bonnet 9 and the clamping screw 12. All parts of the plummet are symmetrical with respect to their vertical axes, and the axes of all parts coincide so as to adapt the plummet for use in connection with engineering instruments.

While I have described the principle of the invention and illustrated two embodiments thereof, I wish it understood that the structures above shown are merely illustrative, and that such changes may be made therein when desired as fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim 1. A plummet comprising a body provided in its upper end with a compartment having its upper side open, a member partly closing said side of the compartment, a spindle extending upwardly from the bottom wall of the compartment at the axis of the body, a bobbin rotatably mounted on the spindle, elements carried by the body and bobbin and cooperating when in engagement to hold the bobbin against rotation, a plumb line wound on the bobbin, means for winding the plumb line on the bobbin and for guiding the plumb line while being wound on or unwound from the bobbin, and a means carried by said memher and cooperating with the said first means to releasably maintain said elements in engagement.

- 2. A plummet comprising a body provided in its upper end with a compartment having its upper side open, a member partly closing said side of the compartment, a hollow clamp- 6! ing screw carried by said member, a spindle extending upwardly from the bottom wall of the compartment, a bobbin rotatably mounted on the spindle, a plumb line wound on the bobbin, and a plumb line guiding and winding member having a body portion arranged between the bobbin and clamping screw and journaled on the spindle, said winding and guiding member having a depending annular flange surrounding the bobbinand provided with a radial opening for the line, said winding and guiding member being provided with a stem extending upwardly through the clamping screw, and said stem having a vertical passage and said body portion having a laterally inclined opening for the plumb line.

3. A plummet comprising a body, a bobbin carried by the body, a plumb line wound on the bobbin, and means for winding and guiding the plumb line and rotatably mounted on the body and provided with a flange surrounding the bobbin and having an opening for the passage of the plumb line.

4. A plummet comprising a body, a bobbin carried by the body, a plumb line wound on the bobbin, means for winding and guiding the plumb line and rotatably mounted on the body and provided with a flange surrounding the bobbin and having an opening for the passage of the plumb line, and means by which said winding and guiding means may be held against rotation.

5. A plummet comprising a body provided with a compartment, a bobbin arranged within the con'ipartment, a plumb line wound on the bobbin, means for winding and guiding the plumb line and having a portion arranged between the bobbin and one wall of the compartment, and a clamping member carried by said wall for movement into and out of contact with said portion of said winding and guiding means.

6. A plummet comprising a body provided in its upper end with a compartment having its upper wall provided with an openin a bobbin arranged within the compartment with its axis vertically disposed, a plumb line wound on the bobbin, means for winding and guiding the plumb line and having a body portion arran 'ed between said opening and bobbin, and a clamping member adjustably engaged with said wall and extending through the opening therein for contact with said portion of the winding and guiding means.

7 A plummet comprising a bobbin carried by the body, a plumb line wound on the bobbin, means for winding and guiding the plumb line and rotatably mounted on the body, said means embodying a stem axially alined with the bobbin and provided with an axial bore, said member having a flange located radially opposite the bobbin and provided with an opening, the plumb line passing through said bore and opening, and

meansfor releasably holding said Winding and guiding means against rotation With respeet to-the body. i

8i A plummet comprising a body, a bobbin mounted o'nth'e body, a plumb line Wound on the bobbin, meansconnecting the bobbinv to the body to permit the former tobe held against rotation With respect to the latter, and means adapted to' Wind the plumbv line on the bobbin While the latter is held against I rotation.

9. A plummet comprising a body, a bobbin, a plumb line on the bobbin, andmeans connecting the bobbin to thebody to permit the former to be held against rotation with respect to the latter during the Winding of the plumb line on the bobbin, said means permitting the bobbin to be released from the body to. turnwith respect-to thebody during the unwinding of the plumb line therefrom.

10. A plummet comprising a body, a bob;- bin carried by the body, a plumb line Wound on the bobbin, means for Winding and guiding the plumb line, a member carried by the or: body in spaced relation to the bobbin, and a Clamping member carried by said first member for movement into and out of contact With said Winding and guiding means. I 11. A plummet comprising a body, a bobbin carried by the body, a plumb line Wound on the bobbin, means for Winding and guiding the plumb line, a member 'carried by the body in spaced relation ,to the bobbin, said means having a portion thereof ar- 15 ranged between the bobbin and said member, and a clamping member earried by said first member for movement into and out of contact With-said portion of said means.

In testimony WhereOf'I hereunto affix my signature.

' v EARL H. MORRIS. 

